Latest news with #MichaeliaCash
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Hamas chooses to prolong this war': Claims terrorist group is taking aid from civilians
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash says Hamas 'chooses to prolong this war' in Gaza. 'The moral obligation here lies directly at the foot of the terrorists, Hamas,' Ms Cash told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio. 'They started this war when they butchered and slaughtered 1,200 Israelis." Ms Cash says Hamas is 'taking' the aid Israel is providing.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Kate Emery: Australia must never let reheating of old culture wars tear us apart
A familiar tune has been playing in my head for days. That is not thanks to Triple J's controversial weekend list of the best 100 Australian songs, which not only put Jet's Are You Gonna Be My Girl ahead of The Church's Under the Milky Way, but made my kids late for school while I forced them to admit The Nosebleed Section was a better tune than anything from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack after all, Mum. That déjà vu feeling has nothing to do with seeing music fans argue the merits of INXS v ACDC, and everything to do with the fact that welcome to country is back in the public discourse. Again. This is partly down to the Liberal Party's State council, which voted on Saturday to remove official status for welcome to country ceremonies and partly down to Opposition Senate Leader Michaelia Cash, who said she thinks the ceremonies make people 'feel good' while doing nothing to improve life for Indigenous people. Senator Cash's comments weren't the silliest thing I saw all weekend — that would be ranking Savage Garden's I Want You above Nick Cave's Red Right Hand — but they were right up there. The idea that having a positive display of Indigenous culture is an obstacle to improving Indigenous welfare is like suggesting we all boycott eating hummus until the Middle Eastern crisis is solved. Two things can be true. One: that anyone who has attended a conference where every speaker performs an acknowledgement of country may have thought about rolling their eyes — especially if the tenth 'I'd like to also acknowledge' stands between them and afternoon tea. Two: that anyone who has experienced a truly great welcome to country knows it is anything but tokenistic. The problem is that too many Australians misunderstand what welcome to country is. It's not the same as an acknowledgement of country, which can be done by anyone. A welcome to country must be done by an Indigenous person and is just what it sounds like: an act of hospitality. It's not welcome to the c ountry because because these ceremonies aren't about welcoming us to Australia. As a proud Australian — proud of our music, the fact we're the only nation capable of using the c-word as a term of affection and that we boast the oldest continuous living culture in the world — why would I have a problem with that? The other big misunderstanding about welcome to country is that it was 'invented' by Ernie Dingo. Yeah, nah. Welcome to country is a modern take on what Indigenous groups have been doing since the days when, over in Europe where my ancestors are from, the Neanderthals still thought they were in it for the long haul. When one group passed into territory inhabited by another, the two would come together to request safe passage. Welcome to the patch of country we've been looking after, let us give you some tips for getting along here. The only thing that's 'new' about welcome to country is that it's been given a national platform and incorporated into so many big events, from the opening of Parliament to footy games. I've seen some cracking welcome to country ceremonies over the years, from those that made me laugh to those that tug on what passes for a journalist's heartstrings. The latter happened recently when I received a very special welcome to country in the Pilbara. Without going into specifics — this particular elder was publicity shy — he told us about his connection to the land, and warned us against the spiritual repercussions of taking any artefacts we found. It wasn't about making us feel like trespassers, just an affecting way to be reminded about the history of the land. At a time when the Liberal Party is struggling for relevance, at both the Federal and State level, it is tedious to see so many party members breathing on the coals of this particular culture war. An Opposition that puts its energy into tearing down Indigenous culture instead of holding the Government to account and coming up with policies to present itself as a credible alternative, is one that's doomed to fail. And for those of us who believe that good oppositions make good governments, it's almost as maddening as seeing Thunderstruck not make the top 10 of Australian bangers.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
WA Liberals ‘applauded' for voting to axe Welcome to Country
Sky News host Danica De Giorgio praises the Western Australian Liberal Party for backing a motion to reduce Welcome to Country ceremonies. 'I applaud the WA branch for actually coming to this decision, but I also want to say a big well done to Michaelia Cash, who has taken a really strong stance on this,' Ms De Giorgio said. 'What we need is actual leadership like that, for someone to have the courage to say yes, I'm going to stand up for what I believe in.'
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Albanese has put the Australia-US alliance ‘on the back burner': Michaelia Cash
Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash has 'blamed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the uncertain relationship Australia has with the US. 'It has been over 260 days, Andrew, since the election of President Trump, and we still have not had a face-to-face meeting,' Ms Cash told Sky News Australia. 'Under Mr Albanese, I don't think there is any doubt now that the Australia-US alliance has been put on the back burner. 'Our influence in Washington, it should be greater than ever.'
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Liberal senator Michaelia Cash says Welcome to Country ceremonies ‘tokenistic'
Senior Liberal senator Michaelia Cash has given a strong take-down of the 'tokenistic' use of Welcome to Country ceremonies being conducted at official events, stating they make people 'feel good' while turning a 'blind eye to the realities faced' by First Nations people. The view, which differs from the position held by Sussan Ley, comes as the contentious motion was debated at the WA Liberal Party council on Saturday. State members called on the Opposition Leader to state that 'Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgments should not hold official status as they are tokenistic at best and do nothing to improve the lives of our most disadvantaged Australians'. Practically, this means the rituals would not be performed during sporting matches, and official functions like Anzac Day Dawn Services and the opening of parliament. A second motion also called on the federal party to only give 'formal Commonwealth recognition' to the Australian national, and state flags. 'Overdone' Speaking to Sky, Senator Cash stood by her strong support of the motions, stating its been her 'fundamental belief for a very long time'. 'They have now become so overdone, they are tokenistic. But more than this, as a Western Australian, and we live in a big state and there are large Indigenous communities, the one thing I want Australians focused on is not tokenistic gestures that make us feel good whilst we turn and a blind eye to the realities faced in Indigenous communities on the ground.' She said she 'stood with' Indigenous Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, and would do so 'any day of the week,' and called for 'practical' policies. 'We want to see all Australians unite and focus on the practical policy outcomes that will make a difference … in the lives of the most disadvantaged in this country,' she said. 'The one thing we should unite under is making a practical difference, a positive difference in their lives. It's my focus … I can be judged for that.' On Tuesday, One Nation senators fuelled debate after Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts, Tyron Whitten and Warwick Stacey turned their backs on the chamber during a Welcome to Country ceremony. Later speaking to Sky, Senator Hanson said she 'had a gutful' of the rituals. 'I have had enough, and I do not want a Welcome to Country and to be disenfranchised from my own country that I was born here,' she said. Minister for Indigenous Australias Malarndirri McCarthy said the act was 'disrespectful' and 'unacceptable' given senators 'represent millions of Australians and that includes First Nations people'. While she said it was improper parliamentary conduct, Senator McCarthy acknowledged that there will 'always be differing opinions' on the matter. 'I expect that people will bring their own personal opinions and views into it, but it really was about the conduct of the Senate and senators, and it was important that we put on the record that all senators in there are there to represent Australians and to do so with dignity and respect,' she told the ABC. Originally published as Liberal senator Michaelia Cash says Welcome to Country ceremonies 'tokenistic,' don't improve lives of First Nations
